This week's Fightful Joshi Journal takes a look at the historic IWGP Women's Championship match set for Jan. 4 as KAIRI defends the title against Tam Nakano at Wrestle Kingdom.
The IWGP Women's Championship has received plenty of discussions this week with rumors swirling that a certain "Boss" could be on her way to the Tokyo Dome on Jan. 4. And while that is big in itself, there's no reason to look past the match taking place on that very night between the champion, KAIRI, and challenger, Tam Nakano.
It was at Historic X-Over where KAIRI made history by becoming the first ever IWGP Women's Champion by defeating Mayu Iwatani in the main event, thus beginning what hopes to be a prestigious history for the first women's championship in history to have "IWGP" attached to it. When Nakano made her way down to the ring following the match to challenge KAIRI for Wrestle Kingdom 17, more history was guaranteed to be made with this championship.
Not only will this be the first women's singles match on a Wrestle Kingdom card but it will be the first women's title match inside the Tokyo Dome since All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's (AJW) Big Egg event on Nov. 20, 1994. The championship match that night was Alundra Blayze defending the WWF Women's Championship against Bull Nakano with Nakano walking out victorious. So yes, it's cool to see another Nakano having a shot at the gold inside the Dome all these years later.
There may be a ton of pressure on the backs of both KAIRI and Nakano to make the first defense of the IWGP Women's Championship memorable with what is likely to be the most eyes on Wrestle Kingdom since 2020 (at least) but their talent should carry them to something special. The importance and history is there to only benefit both wrestlers and nothing less. With the bright lights on, there's no doubt that they're prepared to give it their all.
And if the rumored surprise follows this match, then here's to hope more eyes than ever are on a talent like Nakano, who has become one of the best in the world through her time in STARDOM.
As all the excitement for this show continued to ramp up, be prepared for this match to potentially steal the show and continue to put both STARDOM and the new IWGP Women's Championship on the map.
Matches Worth Checking Out (12/14/22)
- STARDOM
- Thekla vs. Starlight Kid
- Tam Nakano & Natsupoi vs. Saya Kamitani & AZM
- TJPW
- Miyu Yamashita vs. Rhio
- WAVE
- Risa Sera vs. Miyuki Takase
Notable results from the week:
Pro Wrestling WAVE Yokohama WAVE ~ Jan 2022 Results (12/10/22)
- WAVE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender Tournament First Round: Haruka Umesaki & Sakura Hirota def. Kakeru Sekiguchi & Riko Kawahata
- Regina Di WAVE Title No. 1 Contender Tournament First Round: Risa Sera def. Miyuki Takase
- Regina Di WAVE Title No. 1 Contender Tournament First Round: Itsuki Aoki vs. Yuu ended in a 10-minute draw
- Regina Di WAVE Title No. 1 Contender Tournament First Round: Kohaku def. Yuko Sakurai
- Regina Di WAVE Title No. 1 Contender Tournament First Round: Tsubasa Kuragaki def. Suzu Suzuki
- Hikari Shimizu, SAKI & Yuki Miyazaki def. Kaori Yoneyama, Rina Amikura & Cherry
Check out our latest Joshi interviews with Unagi Sayaka, Asahi, and Yuzuki Aikawa.
